IDNO

P.967.ACH1

Description

On Catalogue Card: “Gawer’s shrine on Dauar.”

Side view of a cleared section of undergrowth showing a number of differently shaped stones, some of which are positioned upright, and clam shells. [Jude Philp 27/5/1999]

Place

Oceania Australasia; Australia; Torres Strait; Mer; Dauar Island

Cultural Affliation

Torres Strait Islander

Named Person

Photographer

Wilkin, Anthony

Collector / Expedition

Haddon, Alfred Cort [Cambridge University Anthropological Expedition to the Torres Straits, 1898 - 1899]

Date

1898

Collection Name

Mounted Haddon CollectionTorres Strait Island Expedition

Source

Haddon, Alfred Cort (Dr)

Format

Print Black & White Mounted

Primary Documentation

Other Information

Publication: Printed in Reports VI: iii, fig. 1 "Gawer-ra ged, Gawer's place, Keriam, Au Dauar (p.28)." [JD 15/09/2021]

MAA Exhibition: Same image included in 1920s Exhibition Case Binders "Cases 5-10. Torres Strait." (OA2/16/4) with the following information: "53. Gawer and her treasures at Keriam on Dauar.
This is connected with the story of Abob and Kos, two mythical brothers who were culture-heroes and among other matters showed the people how to construct fish-weirs (No. 22). Gawer was an old woman who equipped the heroes when they were about to kill the Warip people of Waier. She is now a stone figure, the stone carving (case 8) represents the head of the weare fish. Abob and Kos gave a weare to Gawer to eat and this was one of her ido lu treasures. (Case 8)
Gawer is a lu babat and not a zogo.
Vol. VI, p. 28.
Photo. taken in 1898 by A. Wilkin." [JD 15/09/2021]